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BREAKING: Falana heads to court against IBB over June 12 detention, 32 years after
A team of lawyers is now being assembled by Femi Falana (SAN), renowned human rights activist and lawyer to launch a legal onslaught against Ibrahim Babangida, former Military President over illegal detention and rights abuse, some 32 years ago.
Falana, who claimed he was detained by Babangida alongside Gani Fawehenmi, another fiery human rights, who died in 2009 as well as Segun Maiyegun, President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), for seeking for the revalidation of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, said he was resurrecting the case based on the former military ruler’s latest admittance that Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO), Abiola, actually won the election.
The validation by Babangida through his book, A Journey in Service, unveiled to the public during the launch in Abuja, on Thursday, is an indication that there was no basis for his detention, Falana, a guest on Politics Today, a public affairs programme on Channels Television, told his host.
Giving details of the events, 32 years ago, Falana, who described their detention, prosecution, and trial as deliberate, indicated that the team of lawyers, was currently readying the papers to approach the court, recalling he had to go through a harrowing experience in 1993, after they were arraigned at the Gwagwalada Chief Magistrate Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for treasonable felony.
Maintain that Babangida’s actions had long-term consequences for Nigeria’s democracy, which required legal redress for the wrongful prosecution, he stated how he was also stripped of his freedom during his detention at Kuje Prison.
Giving details of the incident, he narrated how they eventually regained their freedom after turning the case around by insisting that it was actually Babangida and his men that should have been standing trial for removing a legitimate government through a coup in 1983.
Hear him: “Even though we were asking for bail, we turned our arraignment to the trial of junta. And I recalled on that occasion, Chief Fawehinmi told the judge, Chief Magistrate Mallam Bulama that those who should be standing trial for treason, should be in the dock were in the Villa, led by General Babangida.
“Because they had sacked, they had overthrown a democratically elected government on December 31, 1983. So, those are the people that should be standing trial. And of course, when it came to my turn, I made it clear to the judge, this section of the law, Section 41 of the Criminal Code Act, which provides anybody who forms an intention to remove the president of his country, during his term of office, otherwise than by constitutional means.
“I said, my lord? The man calling himself my president has no fixed term of office. So, I couldn’t have been brought here. Of course, the judge adjourned. Two weeks later, he granted us bail very liberally, N20,000 and one surety in like sum.
“They couldn’t go back to court, so that we don’t turn the thing into a full trial of General Babangida and others. So, it simply ran away. The case was struck out on liberal grounds of N20,000 and one person in like sum.
“I have assembled a team of lawyers. They are looking into it. Because he has now brought it to life by now admitting that there was no basis for my prosecution. Because he now says Abiola won the election, which was the basis of our protests. He is also saying, you know, it shouldn’t have postponed the terminal date of his transition programme.
“Which, again, we are fighting. So, which means there was no basis for our prosecution. It is malicious. Again, massive infringements of our rights, human rights. Because when you keep me in Kuje prison, you deny me my right to liberty, my freedom of movement. You also violate my right to choose the government of my country.
“Point to Article 13 of the African Charter on Human Rights. Because the man who did it has just come out to say, I did it wrongly. Echoing the ruling of the court in Abuja in the case of Femi Falana vs. Republic of Benin and others, the court stated that any violation occurring after three years cannot be pursued in the jurisdiction.
“But later, you know, the improvement of the jurisprudence of the court has now come to the conclusion. I think that was in the case of Federation of Journalists, you know, Gambia and the government of that country that once you are talking of serious abuse of human rights, statute of limitation does not apply.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed the judgement of the federal high court in Abuja nullifying the timelines issued for the conduct of party primaries and the nomination of candidates.
Alex Izinyon SAN, leading a team of lawyers of the commission in a notice of appeal dated May 25, raised nine grounds it urged the appellate court to consider and vacate the judgment the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered on May 20.
Apart from raising the issue of jurisdiction, which it said the lower court did not determine, INEC also maintained that the legal action the Youth Party (YP) initiated against it was not only hypothetical but academic.
Arguing that failure of the trial court to make pronouncements on the issues, resulted in the denial of fair hearing to the Appellant, the commission also stressed the lower court misinterpreted the provisions of the electoral act.
It said: “The high court erred in law when it held that: ‘It is clear from the wordings of Sections 29(1), 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the following can be understood. Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 mandates Political Parties to submit the names of candidates in prescribed forms of the candidates who emerged from its valid primaries which such a political party intends to sponsor at the elections, not later than 120 days before the date of the General Election.
“What is required of Political Parties to do under the Electoral Act, 2026 is to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 21 days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, or any conference or meeting convened for the election of its executive committees, other governing bodies for nominating candidates.
“The Defendant is not mandated to impose a timeframe for political parties to conduct their primaries provided that it will be done and submitted not later than the 120 days provided by the Electoral Act, 2026. See Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.”
It was another day of misery in Kwara State, when daredevil terrorists reportedly stormed Yashikira Community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, and as has been the case in many of the attacks, abducting scores of residents including women and children.
But, apparently to register their authority, the gunmen, who were said to have operated for hours without challenge from the security operatives, were said to have torched the palace of the Emir.
The attackers, which reportedly occurred late Sunday night were said to have announced their presence through heavy firing and after storming the palace of the monarch during the period, set it on fire before whisking away their victims, but a similar attempt at the police station in the community, was repelled.
While some of the residents, narrated how the spent hours without resistance, leaving behind destruction and fear in the border community, another account said the villagers were caught unawares as the gunmen invaded the town under the cover of darkness.
However operatives made up of the police and military personnel, were said to have launched a manhunt immediately for the immediate rescue of the victims, including throwing a cordon in the area as part of the mission.
“The suspect offered ₦500 million to the SPU commander in an attempt to make the team stand down and allow him to contact his associates to move the consignment elsewhere. The offer was rejected immediately and properly documented for further investigation.”
These were the exact words of Olohundare Jimoh Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), with which he detailed how operatives of the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) scoffed at a N500million bribe to turn their eyes off the importation of a huge consignment of drugs imported into the country.
This was part of the details of a major breakthrough by the operatives after bursting a major drug trafficking syndicate in Lagos, which led to the seizure of suspected illicit drugs estimated at ₦7.8 billion and arresting several suspects, including the alleged kingpin.
In the operation, reportedly carried out by officers of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) in collaboration with divisional police detectives, the operatives, were said to have stormed a house in Mende, Maryland area of Lagos, following months of surveillance and intelligence gathering coordinated by the Zone 2 Headquarters.
The recovered drugs consisted of hundreds of bags of suspected Canadian Loud, allegedly stored in the residence of the prime suspect, Jimoh, said disclosing that the suspect was apprehended on May 19 after weeks of strategic monitoring by operatives.
Offering further details, he said the operation was executed with technical support and guidance from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, alongside coordinated efforts between the SPU and divisional police teams.
Jimoh revealed that during the operation, the suspect allegedly attempted to bribe the SPU commander with ₦500 million to compromise the mission and allow the movement of the drug consignment.
The AIG described the development as a reflection of the renewed professionalism and operational discipline being entrenched in the Force under the current policing strategy.
He noted that the success of the operation underscored the importance of deploying specialized police units alongside conventional divisional teams in tackling organized crime.
According to him, the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of rapid containment strategies, intelligence-led policing, and professional conduct among the operatives involved in the raid.
“Rapid containment was achieved as the Special Protection Unit worked with divisional teams to secure the perimeter and prevent escape or interference with evidence.
“The operation was intelligence-driven, following months of surveillance and technical monitoring before the raid was carried out.
“The immediate rejection and documentation of the bribe attempt also reflect the standard expected from redeployed personnel at the divisional level,” Jimoh added.
Reacting to the development, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, commended the operatives for their professionalism, saying the success of the operation validated the ongoing redeployment of personnel to divisions and units across Lagos and Ogun states.
The IGP noted: “Policing must be close to the people, and our specialized units must work side by side with divisional teams on the ground.
“The professionalism shown by the SPU commander in rejecting a ₦500 million bribe and following due procedure is the standard we expect. It shows that when you put your best foot forward at the grassroots, you get results and restore public trust.”
Disu further assured that the Force leadership would continue to reward integrity while holding officers accountable to the highest ethical standards.
Police authorities said exhibits recovered during the operation have been properly documented and will be tendered in court. The suspects are currently in custody while investigations continue to track down other members of the drug trafficking network.
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